Cultural Theory: An Introduction

If you are serious about becoming an academic researcher in the humanities or social sciences; I would highly recommend this book, even if you think that you have a good understanding of cultural theory. This book really does a great job of providing a solid foundation about the myriad of differing theories that play a vital role in a host of disciplines. One of the book's real strengths is that it is very accessible--which allows you to develop a decent understanding of a variety of topics that can, far too often, be difficult to grasp. This can help you build a solid foundation or give you a good refresher about many topics that shaped (and continue to shape) the humanities and social sciences.

An excellent introductory text that is highly recommended. Looking forward to an updated edition

Nice introduction to the material.

I've spent over 15 years trying to make my way around social and anthropological theory, modernism and postmodernism, from Geertz to Bourdieu to Foucault. This is the book that finally placed all this theory in the proper context and with the required amount of clarity. Discipline-agnostic, it covers thinkers in sociology, anthropology, cultural studies and philosophy. I often wondered why social and anthropological theory appeared so siloed (with the usual exceptions of Durkheim, Bourdieu, and other thinkers who practiced in both fields). This book abandons those silos. Sahlins, Turner, Geertz and Douglas appear alongside Goffman, Giddens and Parsons. And, again, I have to go back to the clarity in this book. The thinking of some very difficult theorists is made comprehensible, while overall trajectories and trends in cultural theory are easy to see.

Great